Black Sabbath began work on new material in October 1986 at Air Studios in Montserrat with producer Jeff Glixman. The recording was wrought with problems from the beginning, as Glixman remaining after the initial session and was replaced by producer Vic Coppersmith-Heaven. Bassist Dave Spitz quit for "personal issues", and ex-Rainbow bassist Bob Daisley Daisley has been re-recorded all the bass tracks, and wrote songs for the album, but before the album was finished he is joined by his backing band, Gary Moore, drummer Eric Singer taking with him. Having a problem with the second largest producer of Coppersmith-Heaven, the band returned to Morgan Studios in England in January 1987 to work with new producer Chris Tsangarides. While working in the UK, the new singer Ray Gillen Black Sabbath suddenly left to form Blue Murder John Sykes. The group is listed former singer Tony Martin Alliance to re-record the tracks Gillen and drummer Bev Bevan to solve some percussion overdubs. Before the release of new album, Black Sabbath, has accepted an offer to play six shows in Sun City, South Africa during apartheid. The group has drawn criticism from activists and artists involved with United Artists against Apartheid, which boycotted South Africa since 1985. Drummer Bev Bevan refused to play shows, and was replaced by Terry Chimes, formerly of The Clash.
After almost a year in production, The Eternal Idol was released December 8, 1987, and ignored by contemporary commentators. Internet online reviews are mixed era. Allmusic said that "a strong voice Martin adds new fire" for the group, and the album contains "some of the heaviest during Iommi riffs." Blender gave the album two stars, claiming the album is "Black Sabbath in name only" album stall at # 66 in the UK, while peaking at 168 in the U.S. .. The band toured in support of the Eternal Idol in Germany, Italy and for the first time in Greece. Unfortunately, partly because the response of the promoter for the incident in South Africa, other European shows were canceled. Bassist Dave Spitz left the band shortly before the visit, and was replaced by Jo Burt, a former Virginia Wolf.
After a poor sales performance of Eternal Idol, Black Sabbath were dropped by Vertigo Records and Warner Bros. Records and signed with IRS Records. The group was on leave in 1988, returned in August to begin work on the next album. Following a problem with the recording of The Eternal Idol, Tony Iommi opted to produce the next album himself. "This is the beginning of a new reality," Iommi said. "I had to rethink everything, and decided that we needed to build the credibility of others." Iommi recorded ex-Rainbow drummerCozy Powell, Nicholls former keyboardist and bassist Laurence Cottle session, and rented a "very good studio market in the United Kingdom. "
Headless Cross Black Sabbath, released in April 1989 and again ignored by contemporary commentators. Finally, give the album four stars Allmusic called Headless Cross "the best non-Ozzy or Dio Black Sabbath album." Anchored by a number 62 single mapping "Headless Cross", the album reached number 31 in the UK charts and number 115 in the United States. Queen guitarist Brian May, a good friend Iommi plays a guest solo on the song "When calls from death." After the release of the album, the group added bassist Neil Murray tour, the former group Accompanying Whitesnake and Gary Moore
The Headless Cross Tour unhappy United States began in May 1989 with the release Come to the UK and Silent Rage, but due to poor ticket sales, the tour was canceled after only eight have shown leg tour European starts. In September, where the group is experiencing the success of the album. After a series of shows in Japan, the group began a tour of 23 Russian with Girlschool. Black Sabbath is one of the first tour group from Russia, after Mikhail Gorbachev opened the country to action in the west for the first time in 1989.
The group returned to the studio in February 1990 to save Tyr, followed by Headless Cross. Although not technically a concept album, some lyrics of the album the theme loosely based on Norse mythology. Tyr was released August 6, 1990, and reached number 24 in the UK charts, but the first version of Black Sabbath does not violate the Billboard 200 in the United States. This album will again received mixed reviews internet era, with Allmusic notes that "the myth mixture of metal in the destruction of the synthetic vision of music," band album whileBlender give one star, saying "Iommi continues to sully the name of Sabbath with this collection of mediocre "The band is touring in support of Tyre with the Circus of power in Europe, but the last seven dates in the United Kingdom were canceled because of the Ticket poor. For the first time in their career, touring bands do not include U.S. dates.
